Turkish police disperses protesters over coup case

Turkish police used tear-gas and water cannons to disperse protesters on Thursday as thousands gathered in Ankara's downtown marching to the parliament building to protest the lengthy detentions of hundreds of the Turkish journalists, academicians and military officers who were allegedly involved in a coup. Nearly 3,000 people gathered in Kizilay square in Turkey's capital to protest a judicial bill pending in the parliament that will determine the fate of those detained. Turkish police set up a barricade in front of the parliament building and repelled protesters who attempted to dismantle the barrier. The bill concerns cases involving the group Ergenekon, an alleged underground terrorist organization that aimed to topple the government and the "Balyoz" or "Sledgehammer" coup plot that was designed to instigate social disorder through military operations. The bill limits the detention period for the incarcerated to five years. The government-led judicial package, which was presented to the parliament on Feb. 6, will abolish controversial special authorized courts, and is expected to retire hundreds of military officers accused of plotting the coup attempt. The duration of detentions was previously reduced to 7.5 years from 10 years. Mainly supporters from the Workers Party participated in the demonstration, while some lawmakers from main opposition Republican People's Party also attended the protests. Emine Ulker Tarhan, Republican People's Party lawmaker, was one of the many people who were tear-gassed. Crowds carried photographs of members of Turkish army and journalists who are imprisoned from the Ergenekon and Balyoz cases.